MotoBrief

While it seems far more common that elected officials take a swing at motorcycling, yesterday Governor Mitch Daniels led an ABATE of Indiana ride to promote motorcycle awareness.

It’s awesome to see support like this, especially in light of people like Washington state senator Adam “I would be happy to ban the use of the internal combustion engine off-road by anyone” Kline. Kline is the guy who has decided that being outside is “a place to go for quiet and solitude and self-exploration,” and is tired of, well, all the other humans who get in the way of his zen quiet time.

Kline’s ultra-restrictive legislation would prohibit the use of any off-highway vehicle, even on private property, if the noise could be heard at the property line. You can check out the fight against this and other motorcycle-related legislation at the AMA’s Response Center.

Michigan motorcyclists have been fighting for years to repeal their longstanding helmet law. The Detroit Free Press reports that this year, proposed legislation offers a trade — if a rider meets some requirements they can purchase a license sticker that certifies they can ride helmet free. The price? $100 for a one-year sticker, or $200 for three years.

I think this legislation (introduced as House Bill 4749) is remarkably misguided. I’m generally opposed to helmet laws on principle (I’m not a fan of nanny laws) but I don’t get involved in efforts to overturn them. I’d rather see that energy put toward promoting rider education and awareness campaigns for automobile drivers.

But this legislation seems to be a terrible solution. By setting a price tag on this particular risky behavior, it opens the door to broader attacks on motorcycling.* Once we establish a fee-for-risk model, why shouldn’t it be applied to other risky behavior? I might think it’s crazy to get on a bike without a helmet, but I’ve met a sizable number of people who think it’s madness that I get on a bike at all. I wonder how much should I have to pay?

Risk acceptance is a big part of riding a motorcycle. It’s no different than any other sport — mountain climbers, skydivers, bicyclists, whatever. Everyone determines what level of risk they’re willing to accept in pursuit of their passion — from a fatal mountaintop fall to getting cracked on the noggin by an errant golf ball. It’s a personal choice that each of us has to make. To start paying for the privilege? Madness. But no crazier than thinking that paying to ride without a helmet is some kind of anti-helmet law victory.

* I recognize that the same logic could be applied to helmet laws. But helmet laws have been around for decades and haven’t led to a general ban on motorcycling.